The Speaker of the Nigerian House Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has described the reports that about 10.5 million children are out of school in Nigeria as worrisome.
He made this assertion during the flag-off of the enrolment of 500 children in schools, as well as a free medical outreach to 10,000 residents in Zamfara State on Friday.
The Speaker who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Garba Rikiji at the event, described as unacceptable the alarming rate of out-of-school children in the country.
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He said it is a time bomb that leaders and concerned citizens must join hands together to address before it explodes.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, who is Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, has stated that Nigeria tops the list of out-of-school children in the world.
According to her, the alarming figure was the reason the Federal Government to set up a committee that would develop plans to address the challenges.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the National Steering Committee on Alternate School Programme (ASP) recently in Abuja, the minister, who is the co-chairperson of the committee, explained that the committee would come up with plans to reduce the number of children who are currently out of school.
She said the children would be provided with quality basic education and skills in unique and special settings that are not addressed in a conventional school system.
In the same vein, the Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu has also expressed worry and disappointment over the rising numbers of out-of-school children in the country, stating that it is unacceptable and must be tackled head-on by all stakeholders to save the future of the country.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK